Chapter Four

Tears

Lucy and the others continued their journey before sunrise. They might meet Natsu on the road since for sure he camped out during the night.

At least we have Wendy. Lucy thought to herself. Since Wendy has a very good sense of smell, she would be able to sniff Natsu's scent.

She silently prayed to meet Natsu today. After all, Lucy has been waiting for his return for two years. She will surely beat him to a pulp and will make him explain why he hasn't returned, making her worry to death.

She had imagined the things she will ask him to do to forgive him for all the troubles he has caused her and the guild. She hasn't realized the smile on her face until Erza stopped to look at her, causing the others to gaze at her as well.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" Lucy asked. Erza's face softens as she answers.

"This is the first time I saw you smiling after Natsu went missing. You should smile more often. I miss the old you. The cheerful Lucy who Natsu brought to Fairy Tail." She said.

"And please also stop thinking you're all alone. We're here. We are your nakama." Gray added.

Tears started to fall from Lucy's eyes when she realized the trouble she had caused everyone in Fairy Tail. Just like her, everyone in the guild is worried about Natsu and his sudden disappearance. But what worried them more is her, not being able to move on. Always locking up herself in her apartment, crying her eyes out. She has distressed them with her actions in the past two years. She felt the need to apologize to them and thank them for always looking out for her.

"I-I'm really sorry for causing you guys trouble. I didn't realize until now that I've worried you a lot. And thank you for not leaving my side. Thank you, guys." Lucy said between her tears. Juvia walked to hug her, followed by Wendy and Carla.

"We are friends even though you are my love rival." Juvia said making Lucy smile bigger.

"I'm sure Natsu has eaten a poisoned fish and that made him sleep for two years." said Happy making everyone laugh.

Natsu and Maito reached Mirania after few hours . Feeling the light-headedness from the ride, he slowly climbed down from the carriage. He heard his stomach growl from hunger after throwing up many times.

He smelled something good at a nearby restaurant. He runs towards the place forgetting the old man who was tying up the horse to a tree. The old man followed Natsu immediately after feeding the said animal thinking of what the place might end up with if Natsu get involved in another fight again.

They were lucky the owner of the restaurant from Britannica was very much considerate for not asking them to pay for the destroyed place. He won't have enough jewels to pay them anyway. After all, Natsu saved their butts.

Maito also remembered Natsu being called the real Salamander by the blue-haired guy he fought with. He wondered if it's his real name. He opened the doors restaurant and looked in the pink-haired boy, who at that moment was happily eating a fried meat. He was calling him while munching the food on his mouth.

He sat next to the boy who was still enjoying his graceful meal and started to eat, since Natsu has already ordered for him. The meal ended without any disturbance which Maito silently thanked for.

They stepped outside the restaurant going back to the carriage when Natsu accidentally bumped with a tall and muscular white-haired guy. Natsu stared at the guy and the long white staff he was carrying.

He seems familiar to him. The guy did the same thing, gaping at Natsu who was still working on figuring out who the white-haired guy is. Natsu heard a kid nearby asking her father to buy her some takoyaki. His eyes widened.

Takoyaki… Octopus… Octopus Guy… Byro! Memories started flowing again making Natsu swear on pain. He was reminded of the time in Edolas, Byro's Edolas counterpart, and his fight with the octopus the guy owns. He remembered his nullifying power. More memories came back when he noticed the people walking towards them. The tall armored guy who was happily gazing on the women he pass by. A yellow haired guy and a girl who was running really fast shouting his name.

The Legion Corps. The Infinity Clock. The face of Lucy cries being consumed by the destructive giant clock. The fight with the new Oracion Seis. And him catching Lucy from the sky. Some of the memories he gained are still hazy but nonetheless, they served their purpose as he has additional memories of the girl he has been wishing to meet.

He was surprised when she saw the running girl throw herself at him into a hug.

"Natsu-san! I'm glad you're alive. They all believe you were dead but we all know you're missing. Where have you been? Don't you know Hime-sama is really worried about you! " The girl said releasing him from her hug. He remembers her. Coco.

"YO! How dare you make a beautiful maiden cry! You made Lu-tan cry!" said the armored red-hair guy.

Byro approached him followed by his comrades who he also remembered the names. Sugar Boy, the armored guy Dan, the exceed Samuel and the girl with short hair, Mary Hughes But his eyes focused on Dan. He was reminded of the time Dan was chasing Lucy all around, asking for her hand in marriage. And how they used her to lure Dan making Natsu go back to his normal body size. He glared at him.

"What did you do with Lucy?" Natsu asked Dan.

"You're seriously asking us that? You're the one who made her cry rivers of tears. My poor Lu-pi!" he squeaked.

Natsu was about to answer but Byro interrupted him.

"Salamander, it's been a while. We've heard you were missing." He started.

"He lost his memories. Do you happen to be his comrades?" Maito asked.

"No. Not exactly. But we owe him for saving Zentopia. " Byro answered.

"You owe me nothing. " Natsu said.

They sat on the side of the road near the carriage and continued their talk. Natsu has heard a lot of interesting stories about the infinity clock and how it was destroyed. They all fill him up on the things he forgets about the fight with the New Oracion Seis. And how Lucy managed to control the infinity clock and destroy it.

After few hours of talking, the Legion Corps decided to finish the job they had received from the Archbishop. They bid goodbye to Maito and Natsu. The memories he got from meeting the Legion stirred something inside him. He thought again of Lucy. The face of Lucy crying.

I'm sorry for making you cry, Luce. I swear, you won't cry again. He promised to himself.